Event Sunagakure Presents: Two Kings Part 2 - Stewards of the Sands: Shadows and Alliances

[Chikamatsu Shin]

The silence that followed Kohana's challenge stretched like a pulled wire; taut, dangerous, ready to snap. Shin remained on his dais, the golden cracks along his skin pulsing with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat. For a moment, he looked every bit the wounded leader his sister had just exposed him as: tired, cracked, bearing scars that glowed like warnings everyone could see but no one had dared name.

Until now.

He took a slow breath, and when he spoke, his voice carried none of the formal authority he'd maintained throughout the council. This was rawer. More honest. The mask of the Kazekage slipping to reveal the man beneath, the one who'd shared consciousness with the woman challenging him for thirty-one years.

"You're right."

Two words. Simple. Devastating in their honesty.

"You're absolutely right, Kohana. About all of it." He descended from the dais, each step deliberate as he moved to stand not above the council, but among them. "I called you here, gathered every clan in Sunagakure, spoke beautiful words about unity and equality and shared purpose..."

He paused for a moment, his eyes moved away from Kohana and began to scan around the room.

"and then tried to shield you from the very truth that makes this unity necessary. That was... that was cowardice dressed as protection. And my sister—my conscience, as I call her—just stripped that pretense away in front of everyone."

His blue eyes found Kohana's crimson ones across the table. "Thank you for that. Truly. Because if I cannot be honest with the people I'm asking to stand beside me, then this covenant is already broken before it begins."

He turned to address the full council, his voice gaining strength even as vulnerability remained in every word. "Lord Kyouketsu asked how many bodies to prepare for. Lord Hokkyoku asked what these plans actually involve. Lady Kohana demanded to know the full scope of what I'm asking you to commit to. These are not just reasonable questions—they are the only questions that matter right now, and you deserve answers."

Shin's hand moved to his chest, where the golden cracks were most concentrated, pulsing beneath his robes like a second heartbeat.

"These marks... they're from the battle on the surface. When I—no... when we faced the mercenary forces that were discovered to be employed by political advisories known as the Baron Twins. The cost of that victory was... substantial. I pushed my chakra system beyond its limits, burned pathways that may never fully heal, because the alternative was allowing the Baron Twins' army to slaughter everyone on the surface and cave in our village to kill every man, woman, and child within our borders."

He paused, and something like pain crossed his features—not physical, but something deeper. "But that's not the worst of it. The worst is what we learned from these forces before he... before the end. The Baron Twins aren't just wealthy mercenaries with a grudge. They're not simply external threats we can defend against with walls and warriors. I believe they've been systematically infiltrating Wind Country for years. Steward Wei was just one puppet—one highly placed, devastatingly effective puppet—but he was not alone."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the implications settled over the assembled clan heads.

"The merchant class that Lord Michino removed from power? Many of them were already compromised, either through bribery, blackmail, or replacement."

His eyes narrowed across the table to truly pick up on the subtle reactions of what he was about to say..

"I fear that the infiltration may have extended beyond just the Merchant Clans. "

I gesturento Lady Chiyo.

"But fret not, using the network and intelligence gathering skills that Lady Chiyo has accumulated will provide beneficial to rooting out any and all traitors within our walls."

Shin paused before continuing on.

"That said, the attack on the surface wasn't meant to destroy us, not solely, it was meant to force us to resurface to do repairs, to expose our location so the Twins could bring their full military might upon us. They want Wind Country's resources, its strategic position, and they're willing to genocide an entire hidden village to claim them."

Shin's gaze swept across the council, meeting each representative's eyes in turn. "The six days I mentioned... that's how long we have before the Baron Twins' main force should be able to move on the attack again. They're bringing an army—not mercenaries this time, but actual military forces purchased from failing nations, augmented with missing-nin, war criminals, and weapons that should never have been created. Intelligence suggests somewhere between fifteen hundred to two thousand combatants, supported by siege equipment, and chemical weapons."

The silence that followed was absolute. Even Yamashiro Takeru's flames had stilled.

"We cannot fight that force head-on. We would lose. Sunagakure's entire active shinobi population, even supplemented by every civilian who can hold a weapon, numbers perhaps eight hundred combat-capable individuals. The math is not in our favor. Which is why..." He took a breath, and the golden cracks pulsed brighter. "...we're not going to fight them head-on."

Shin moved to the table, placing both hands on its surface as he leaned forward. "The plan requires three simultaneous operations, each dependent on the others, each requiring absolute coordination between clans that have never worked together at this scale. This is why I need unity. Why I need your cooperation. Why I need you to trust not just me, but each other."

He straightened, and his voice took on a commander's edge, no longer just the Kazekage making requests, but a strategist laying out the only path to survival.

"Operation One: The Tsuchigumo Clan, working with the Takahashi engineering corps, will create a false village at our last known surface coordinates. Barrier networks that mimic our defensive signatures. Puppet constructs that register as human chakra signatures to long-range sensors. Takahashi-designed explosive traps integrated into Tsuchigumo webbing to create a killing field that looks like a legitimate settlement until the moment the Twins' forces commit to full assault."

His gaze found Amaya. "Lady Tsuchigumo, your patience and preparation will save us here. We need your barrier network so convincing that the Twins' scouts report back with absolute confidence they've found us. And we need it completed in four days—the remaining two are for evacuation and final preparations."

"Operation Two: While the Twins' forces assault the false village, the Hokkyoku Clan will guide our actual village deeper into the desert using routes only they know. Lord Kaze, you said your people know every hidden passage within five hundred miles, we need those passages. Every single one. Because we're going to move Sunagakure to a location even I don't know yet, somewhere so remote that by the time the Twins realize they've been deceived, we'll have disappeared like we never existed."

He turned to Kaze. "Your autonomy, your nomadic lifestyle—this is where it becomes our greatest asset. You don't need rigid command structures because you've been navigating impossible terrain your entire lives. I'm not asking you to plant roots. I'm asking you to teach an entire village how to move like you do."

"Operation Three: The Renmei Clan will work with the Kyouketsu and medical corps to create a resource cache system along our evacuation route. Lady Mizuki, your water distribution expertise becomes mobile, not maintaining static systems, but creating portable reserves that can sustain eight hundred people on the move for weeks if necessary. Lord Shigure, your clan's knowledge of preservation, of making the dead serve the living, translates to making supplies last far longer than they should. Every drop of water, every scrap of food, every medical supply, rationed and distributed with precision that keeps us alive in the deep desert."

Shin's voice softened slightly. "And Lord Yamashiro, your Unity Ceremony isn't just symbolic. It's essential. Before we begin this evacuation, before we disappear into the desert, our people need to see their leaders standing together. They need to believe this is possible. Your sacred flames, binding every clan to shared purpose... that becomes the spiritual foundation that keeps us unified when everything else is chaos and fear."

"And outside of these major operations i will be sending out platoons of our most talented shinobi to gather information of their headquarters hidden away in the Golden Sanctuary. "

I look to Lord Michino before continuing.

"and by the end of that sixth day, a squad of our own will lay waste to the Baron Twins, or die trying. This mission will not fail because it cannot. Not if we desire to survive the week. "

He turned back to Kohana, and something raw entered his expression, grief and hope tangled together.

"You asked why I chose you, sister. Why I would send my fury, my sword, my wrath to sit at a diplomatic table. This is why. Because when I laid out this plan to myself, when I calculated the risks and the costs and the probability of success... I knew I needed someone who would call me out if it was madness. Someone who knew how I think well enough to see the flaws I was hiding from myself. Someone who loved this village enough to demand better than beautiful lies."

The golden cracks pulsed, and his voice dropped to something almost innocent like a child looking for permissions despite the public setting. "You said I'm not strong enough to protect everyone anymore. That because of the choices I made, you can't be my shield the way you were for thirty-one years." He paused, and tears threatened at the edges of his eyes. "You're right. I'm not strong enough. I never was. The difference is that now, I'm finally admitting it. I need help. I need all of you. Not as subordinates following orders, but as partners who can see what I'm missing, who can challenge plans that won't work, who can demand the truth even when it's uncomfortable."

He straightened, addressing the full council once more, catching his breath to calm his emotions. "So here is the complete truth: This plan has approximately a forty-two and a half percent chance of success. If the Twins' scouts see through our deception, if they track us during evacuation, if our supplies run out before we can establish a new sustainable location... we fail. And failure means the complete annihilation of Sunagakure no Sato. Not defeat. Not occupation. Annihilation. The Baron Twins don't take prisoners. They don't negotiate. They erase obstacles and take what they want from the ashes."

The silence was crushing.

"That is what I'm asking you to commit to. That is the price of this covenant. Not your loyalty to me, I don't want that. I want your expertise, your innovation, your willingness to make this plan better than forty-some percent. Because together, pooling every clan's unique capabilities, maybe we can push those odds to fifty percent. Sixty. Maybe even seventy if we're very lucky and very good."

He straightened, blue eyes meeting each representative's gaze in turn.

"The floor remains open. Question the plan. Find the flaws. Tell me what I'm missing. Challenge every assumption. Because that's how we turn forty percent into survival. That's how partnership works. And that's the only way Sunagakure no Sato lives to see another generation."

The Kazekage stood among them, no longer above, no longer shielded by formality or beautiful speeches. Just a man asking for help. A leader who finally admitted he couldn't do this alone.

Waiting.

For questions. For challenges. For the expertise and innovation that might just turn desperate odds into actual hope.

The golden cracks pulsed with each heartbeat, a constant reminder of costs already paid and prices yet to come.

But for the first time since the council began, Shin looked not like a Kazekage bearing the weight of command, but like a partner ready to listen.

 

[Kyuji]

Seated in my position at the table, I would listen to everyone speak that chose to give some response to "Kazekage Shin" and allow their words, their feelings, and emotions to seep into me as they all had valid perspectives from their positions in the country. My attention would be caught entirely though by the blonde bearing armor similar to my own that I would learn was Kohana. She was a little firecracker and she looked very similar to the "Kazekage" and Rin, my daughter - hopefully a coincidence on the daughter part and something did not happen to my child or Uka that someone used to their advantage. Maybe, it would be wise after this meeting and hopefully the meeting after this with the "Chikamatsu Shin" to check if I could get into contact with Rin and Uka even though Lady Yanshi was not the biggest fan of another woman having a kid with me from my past. Life was strange like that sometimes, but at least I didn't do anything else to receive the wrath of Lady Yanshi - at least that she was aware of.

Once, the Kohana individual calmed herself down in her seat and the atmosphere got thick like a delicious cake, "Shin" would speak to everyone in the room to cut the tension. He would get down from his position above everyone - smart move by the way as nobody was above anyone else in this room - and speak to them as equals, laying out his plan to handle the imminent threat. His plan was solid overall, but any plan could be torn apart if one was to really break it apart. From what it sounded like, a lot of people were going to die if they are killed as the probability of success was less than half unless the entire village would be able to work together which everyone in this room would know that there were always people against any cause.

In any case, I was the one with the least amount of knowledge due to my incident in the Red Light District that sidelined me for eons so the information being provided was appreciative at the very least. I would look directly at "Shin" and speak with a serious tone in my voice: "Are you planning to join us in the fight? You expect every clan here to contribute to this cause and the majority of the village will also be aiding for the survival of our home. As your alleged 'sensei', I would expect a former apprentice of mine to be leading from the front and not the back. We are going to lose people - it is inevitable with any conflicts at the magnitude that you spoke of. But if we are outnumbered as you say, we need to all be ready to get involved and be willing to risk our lives to protect this village if the plans you laid out fall through or we are snuffed out. That includes you."

I would look at Kohana after I spoke and give her a simple nod - I am glad she lit the fire under the Kazekage's ass regardless of him being a faker or Shin. I would need to speak with her later as well and catch up to ensure Shin was Shin and Kohana was, well, her own being now since she wasn't before. As I said before, life is strange. Returning my gaze to "Shin" I would leave him with one last comment: "You are being realistic with your estimation of success before we work together and if we work together. If you speak to the public, be more confident in us succeeding or fear will run rampant which will result in a drop in morale or panic."

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Harupia was always a well-mannered man. While his father drilled him in the arts of ninjutsu and combat, his mother made sure he was prepared for the less direct parts of the life of a Shinobi and a Noble. Moving elegantly, he ensured his posture was always correct, avoiding any awkwardness or strain that could occur during long periods of discussion. This allowed him to maintain polite conversations while also spotting subtle details about how the other person felt. While he did have his rebellious streak of trying to do his own thing, he did come to appreciate and remember all the lessons from both his parents. And this event was truly a testament as to why, for so long, he would have rather jumped into the maw of Barnyx than try to play politics.

It wasn’t all bad at the start, as people arrived and mingled with one another, greeting each other. Seeing his friend Sosuke was a balm for sore eyes, though also it was also a bit sobering, the engineering Shinobi not doing much to hide his age (not that Harupia was doing so fully consciously…). Lady Kyuji was an old Ally he hadn’t seen in years…which was the same for many, sadly. There were also many people he did not know from the other clans, which meant learning a lot of names quickly. Shin was gracious enough to not mention the rumors of his apparent lineage to loudly…Tho he imagined it was mostly because there were other matters on the agenda.

And then it started. Shin stated his plans and his plea. Things were dire, but they needed to fight back, united on equal ground. Than each clan started to speak in turn, airing their support, their grievances, their demands, stating how they’ll be the ones to make sure this change was pure and not a stunt. He understood the sentiment; every clan wanted its people to have the best lives they could. And some seemed genuinely enthusiastic, but some seemed all to eager to take jabs at the other clans. And he knew he needed to try and not glaze over with his eyes and remember all of this, and he was dreading it. He felt his mother's comforting hand on his shoulder as she smiled at him, the smile having a mix of understanding and amusement. When Kohana spoke to her brother, it did break the monotony a bit.

There was a moment of lull, which offered some solace but also made his nerves spike a bit as he could guess what was coming. And just as he expected, he heard the shuffle behind him as his father stood up, not quite as large as a Toranao and slightly weathered with age, but still clearly a warrior as he looked around with his one eye before saying, “They say too many cooks can spoil the broth…and this kitchen does seem awfully crowded right now. I see all the representative of the clans invited to the gathering have their heads full of ideas of how things should be, and still find the time to take a few stabs at the old order. Warning us of the consequences if this whole thing turns out to be some elaborate ruse. Should we perhaps discuss the consequences of a Clan failing to uphold their part in this new order?!” his voice boomed with a pointed glance at Takeru.

“The separation between clans wasn’t some arbitrary line drawn by the strong kicking down the weak. It was a united front formed when the desert was a hostile force that needed to be tamed. Many of our clans were here since ancient times, but ours were the clans that stood here the longest, the pillar upon which any village stood. Those who tamed the desert and helped shape its land, make it sustainable for others to live in...those who guided us with their wisdom and expertise in science and technology. The sturdy bulwark upon which our enemies crushed themselves, and those that mended our broken warriors," he spoke, waving his hand twaords his own family, the Takahashi, Toranao, and then Chikamatsu

He would pause, and his wife Kohana, would rise, elegant as ever, always the advisor to the head of the clan, the flower to his thorns “Was the way things were set perfect? Obviously not. Is straying from the way in which our village survived and thrived for ages the right answer? I honestly am not sure. In this new crisis were facing, perhaps this change will be good, or it may lead to inner turmoil which will weaken us further. And none of us wants that. If this new order it work, it will need a united voice, and a way for all of us to work together. We all know, as much as I try to rein him in, my Husband is quite the stubborn warrior, but the Sunaku does know time flows, and as the sands of time fly, some things become weaker, while others grow stronger”.

Harupia took a deep breath, knowing what was coming, his parents standing behind him. His father took of his robe, the ceremonial mark of the clan head, as he said, “I’m still kicking, but I’m no spring chicken. Perhaps I’m a bit to dusty to lead the clan on this new road…but I know someone who’s got the body, mind and spirit wit the energy to do just that”. Harupia couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, given his own worries about ageing. He felt both his parents wrap the robe on his shoulder as Shigeo said “While there will be an official village statement, In front of the Gathering of Noble Clans of Suna, I declare I resign my leadership of the of the Sunaku clan…and per tradition and agreement with my Clans council, I appoint my Son Sunaku Harupia as the new head of the Clan”

Harupia took a deep breath, feeling his parents' hands on his shoulders. His father gripped firm, his mothers more gentle, but both reassuring in a way. This was something he always dreaded…but he spent so much time trying to find ways to help the village while being on itys fringe…perhaps now, he could truly do the work needed to help best he could. As his parents sat down, He stood up “I imagine this might be seen as theatric curveball to some, but the reason my family and I decided to do this now is as a symbol of committing to the change. I take this position not just because of birthright… as many can attest, I never asked to be given high ranks. But Suna is my home. I’ve seen it's at its most beautiful…I’ve seen it torn apart by the Cabal, the Daimyo, the Barons… I think we are all tired of running, and this is my way to commit to the good of us all. I acknowledged there is many misgivings in how the Noble Houses treated the remaining ones, and that we all have our own visions and ideas as to how best run things. I don’t know the right answers, but I want to listen, to talk, to plan, and to create something better. The Sunaku Clan and I are willing to work our hardest to ensure the village can once again claim its place on the desert as it was always meant to be,”

All of this transpired right before Shin started addressing those gathered here, the clan head's his sister. Harupia stood through the speech, watching him relay the situation as it was, the risk they were facing, the timetable, and the plan he had to try and work against it. Every piece of information he had available, the reason for his wounds...and then something more. The brief moment of vulnerability. Once again, he imagined Shin as the young genin playing somewhere in the village with his twin sister, and himself, a young carefree Jounin, focused on using his sand for art... The boy was scared and needed help. And he did not help him. He kept the village safe, he defended it time and time again... but his mind was still somewhere in the wild, imagining some sort of what-if. He could have been here, guiding the younger Shinobi, helping build the village up more. and in truth, he didn't want that curious carefree part of him to die; he was curious about the world, its people... but maybe if he focused more in the past, if he stood by the village when it needed him... Shin may have been healthier, happier...friends that are gone would still be here. Those were all what-ifs. Maybe one day, he could afford to let sorrow consume him along with a good liquor or two...but that would have to wait. For the moment, he said, "Not one man could shoulder this kind of burden alone Shin.. but where many would be crushed by the weight, you nearly stumbled and carried on, and you're still standing," he said, admiration in his voice for the young man before adding "As far as your plan, the construction of the tunnels and false village, setting up caches, moving the villagers. Feels like a lot of ground and sand to love through...so my question is" he paused turning towards the other clans before finishing "How can the Sunaku Clan aid you all in your tasks?".

 

[Sand Event]

Sousuke listened with some bitterness at the projected values. The real number was actually probably far less than what was being prescribed. Yet, he refused to be swayed by what appeared to be obvious defeat, and it wasn't so far off from being a damned coin flip. He had never been much for gambling, but that didn't mean he hadn't taken risks before. Even his vast intellect could understand that somethings were simply better left to chance; but damned if he didn't tilt the odds in his favor as much as he could first.
Besides, the village had gone through and come back out on top from impossible odds before. Despite being wounded and on the run, they were still sitting here to plan the next step, and seven days seemed even like a bit of overkill for prep. Normal armies would require months, but shinobi were built different. Suna, bred far stronger soldiers. He stroked white streaked beard gently with a mechanical hand, wrinkles forming stronger at the corners of his eyes as he prepared to do his own famous calculations. Okibi, simply stood and watched with a small smile on her face knowing her father was still a force to be reckoned with.

“Fourty Percent is still high-balling it, Lord Kazekage, but…” there was a gentle twinkle in his eyes, “The Takahashi can lift that up to be over fifty. At least. We’ll need the aid of this conclave to make it happen though. Between supplies and providing enough heat to smith it all out, I have an idea to make our wheels strong enough to work off tracks. I also, have some blueprints already on me for a drill so that we can move off track whenever we need. This is something of a pipe-dream though. The logistics of setting up enough steel to…”

Sousuke stood from his chair, removed from his cloak a large, flag-sized blue print, and unfurled it on the table. He took his position in the new discussion for tactics and how they would advance as he had been brought in to do. Between his own legendary tactics with the aid of both the spy clans, he was certain he could find something to build with the aid of every Sunagakure clan, that would ensure victory. He had crafted the walls. The dome. The train itself. Now his genius would be called upon one more time to give his precious home the ability to protect itself entirely. This time, he would make sure any other would-be foes think twice before attempting to remove the Wind Country's protectors.

[Topic Left w/ Strategy Meeting]

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

"Thank you," Shin said softly as the tactical discussions began to unfold around the table, his blue eyes moving from one clan representative to another. The weight that had pressed upon his shoulders seemed somehow lighter now, distributed among the many hands reaching forward to help carry it.

He watched as Sousuke unfurled blueprints across the polished wood, as clan heads leaned in to examine specifications and offer their expertise. The Tsuchigumo spoke quietly with the Takahashi about barrier integration. The Hokkyoku traced routes on hastily drawn maps. The Renmei calculated water requirements with the Kyouketsu's grim efficiency. Even the newly appointed Lord Sunaku Harupia moved among them, asking how his clan's mastery of sand could reinforce their collective efforts.

This was what he had hoped for. Not blind obedience, but genuine collaboration. Not hierarchy, but partnership.

"Lord Kyuji raises an important point," Shin acknowledged, his voice carrying across the chamber as discussions began to branch into smaller working groups. "When we address the village as a whole, confidence will be essential. But here, in this room, we must be honest about the challenges we face. Only then can we properly prepare."

He moved among the assembled representatives, no longer standing above them on the dais but walking among them as an equal. "And yes, Sensei—I will be leading from the front. The golden cracks you see are not just scars of past battle, but a reminder that I cannot ask others to sacrifice what I am unwilling to give myself. When the strike team moves against the Baron Twins' headquarters, I will be among them. Not because I believe myself indispensable, but because leadership requires presence, not just planning."

His gaze lingered on Kohana for just a moment longer than the others, gratitude and something more complicated flickering across his features. His sister had done exactly what he'd needed her to do—stripped away the comfortable lies and forced him to speak truth. Then he turned to Kyuji, offering a small bow of respect that carried genuine reverence. "Sensei, we will speak privately as you requested. I owe you that much, and far more besides. There is much to discuss, much to explain, and I hope... I hope you will find that your student has learned well, even if the lessons came harder than either of us might have wished."

The golden cracks along his skin pulsed steadily in the lamplight, a constant reminder of costs already paid and those yet to come. But for the first time since the attack on the surface, since Wei's betrayal, since the weight of the Kazekage's mantle had settled upon his shoulders like stone... Shin allowed himself to hope.

Not certainty. Not confidence born of superior strength.

Just hope. Fragile and precious as water in the desert.

He observed as the newly appointed Lord Harupia stepped fully into his role, the ceremonial robes of clan leadership still settling on his shoulders. The question the young—well, not so young anymore—Sunaku asked was exactly right. Not "what can you do for us" but "how can we help you." That shift in perspective, that willingness to serve rather than demand, was precisely what this new covenant required.

"More than any specific technique or contribution, what we need from every clan here is exactly what Lord Harupia just demonstrated. The willingness to ask 'how can I help' rather than 'what do I gain.' That is the foundation of true unity. That is what transforms a collection of clans into a village worth dying to protect."

---

The conversations would continue late into the night and well into the early morning hours. The carmot lamps burned low and were replaced, servants moving quietly through the chamber to ensure refreshments remained available. Representatives remained at the main table or broke into smaller working groups, discussing technical specifications, strategic coordination, and the integration of each clan's unique capabilities into the broader vision.

Arguments erupted and were resolved. Compromises were reached. Impossible challenges were broken down into difficult problems that could be solved through cooperation and innovation. Technical specifications merged with tactical innovation. Ancient wisdom tempered revolutionary zeal.

And somewhere in that alchemy of cooperation, something new began to take shape.

The Baron Twins were coming.

But Sunagakure no Sato would be ready.

Together.

---

[OOC: This thread will remain open for any final character moments, side conversations, or responses that players wish to post. The main council proceedings are considered to continue off-screen as clans work together on the strategic planning detailed above. Feel free to post character reactions, private conversations, or closing moments as desired!]
[Topic Left unless stopped]

 

[Kamiya Akari]

Her eyes were supposed to be focused upon the meeting, but even behind the mask, she couldn't help but have them drawn to the woman of the Uzumoreru clan. She was the acting head of the clan, not Toushin himself, making it very peculiar. The woman's gaze drifted ever so slightly. Akari had learned to be extremely observant in her time traveling to Sunagakure, so she could tell when someone was looking at her, but it seemed the white haired woman was much in the same. She disguised it, but it felt like she was looking straight through her mask and not simply because she stood out due to her imposing height. But she wasn't going to relent and wouldn't look away, trying to pretend in hopes she would dismiss it. In fact, she looked straight into the woman's eyes until she was the first to blink, not that could actually be seen.

Of course, once Chiyoko Uzumoreru resumed paying attention to the proceedings, Akari's eyes wandered themselves and...was that other ANBU operative sleeping? She had never bothered to speak to any other ANBU during her time, so she couldn't be certain, but he clearly seemed far too relaxed. Perhaps she was jealous, Akari certainly did not wish to be there, but knew her power wasn't great enough to simply ignore orders at her whim.And if she was forced to be there and pay attention....She gazed about to make absolutely certain not a single person had their gaze upon either her nor her fellow ANBU as she adjusted her position ever so slightly, her hands already behind her back as she pressed them against the shadows her body created. Thankfully, the fool was in the corner was close to the wall as well and she smacked him upside the head with a swiftness, immediately cancelled the jutsu not even a second later with her hand retracted. A knife would have been more satisfying, but certainly frowned upon. Either way, her gaze remained straight forward towards the meeting the entire time. No one else seemed to react and thankfully, the ANBU already seemed to have a jutsu silencing his sounds. From underneath her mask, her typical smile grew just ever so slightly with a minor sense of satisfaction and vindication.

 

[Kyuji]

When the Sunaku Clan spoke, I would listen to them and smile at Harupia. It would appear that my old ally was finally taking the reigns of his clan from his father and would be leading them into the future starting with this Baron Twins issue that we were facing - a very important issue that could change our village and livelihoods if we were not able to pull this off. It would likely take some time for him to get adjusted to his new role and truly be ready to lead the Sunaku into the future, but I knew he could do it. Maybe - when time allowed - I would set up a meeting with him and help him navigate the various new responsibilities that he would have to address as a clan leader. Technically, my wife, Lady Yanshi, was the head of the Byakko Clan but I was the one that made more public appearances and village matters while she could relax and focus exclusively on clan responsibilities.

Another good friend in Kazekage Sousuke would speak next and he already seemed to have some form of a plan or multiple plans on top of plans for plans. The man always was ready for anything it seemed and it was an admirable trait - one that more people should try to have. I would nod to him and allow him to mingle with the others as this Kazekage that was being Chikamatsu Shin, or maybe it was him, mentioned to me that he would meet with me per my request. A simple nod to him and I would allow him to speak to the rest of the room as well. There would be a lot for us to discuss regardless of him being my former student and medic or not. Hopefully, Kohana would be dragged along as well since I still was not sure how a Kohana could exist outside of Chikamatsu Shin as they were one entity the last time that I spoke to either of them. It was possible that science and the medical field had advanced significantly since I last was able to leave my home or they had to resort to questionable methods to keep it going - who truly knew.

Once everyone was mingling amongst themselves and discussions were occurring, I would scan the room and wait a little bit in my seat the table for anyone that wished to speak with me. If nobody needed me or wished to speak to me further, I would make my departure and go back home to my family. I had a lot to process from this meeting and would need time to reflect.

---

OOC: Topic Left Unless Stopped.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Thus, the arguments and reconsiderations began. Michino let most of it fly over his head for a moment before realizing no one had asked him a single question in the last thirty minutes. A smile lifted to a corner of his face as he tilted his chair back on two legs and looked at the ceiling above, his eyes drifting from there, to towards the murals on the walls, and then back down to the gigantic blueprints.

He was wasted here.

Strategy was never a key focus Michino relied on; clearly, based on past failures. He was a man who had been able to use might and some wit to get past everything he needed. On his feet he thought pretty fast, but when it came to planning out, what was to come…well, it daunted him. He knew nothing of the engineering Sousuke was trying to explain. Trade routes and resources were being spoken in numbers beyond his comprehension. This was why he was better at actually leading, over planning, and after another fifteen minutes Michino knew there was nothing he could input that would change the outcomes decided by far smarter people.

Besides, the part of the coming attacks he cared about the most would require Chiyoko’s network, and that kind of strategy was a subterfuge spoken between far less people. The Toraono lord pushed out his seat and stood with a stretch before placing a gentle hand on the new Sennin’s shoulder with a squeeze. He full on bade Kuro to stand once more and hug the old tiger; he was sure Kuro was between arguments with those at the table before he did. It had been so long since he had seen the legend, it was a relief to know his efforts in making sure the clan of cats hadn’t torn itself apart went to good use. It had been hard, leading from just sheer respect. The Demonbeast King had far more under his belt that caused others in their family to heed his will, and it was a title Michino still struggled to even lift; let alone wear.

Sousuke he never got a chance, the man was deep into the trenches of conversations. He did however shake his technical sister-in-law’s hand, smiling at Okibi as her surprisingly strong grip once more gave him small pause; the Wildling's strength had always puzzled Michino. Then, to the new again Kazekage, he simply gave a wave before stepping out of the double doors to leave the room.

He had a lesson to go teach…

[Topic Left/MFT]

 

[Chiyo]

Chiyoko sat beside her future husband, her posture composed and her expression serene as the conversations around the table gradually coalesced into concrete plans, which in turn crystallized into carefully crafted strategies. Her sharp mind worked continuously beneath that calm exterior, searching for weaknesses in logic, gaps in reasoning, potential pitfalls that might have escaped notice. Yet with so many brilliant tactical minds gathered in this room the flaws were being identified and addressed almost as quickly as they emerged, leaving her little opportunity to voice the corrections that formed on her tongue before they became unnecessary.

The curious ANBU operative positioned at the room's periphery, maintaining that characteristic stillness of their kind, now commanded only a fraction of her awareness. She had already made a mental note to approach Toushin about the matter later, in private. Perhaps he could illuminate why one of the village's elite covert operatives would take such pointed interest in her specifically. The question lingered at the back of her mind, but she refused to let it distract from the important work unfolding before her.

Her focus shifted as Michino rose from his seat beside her, rolling his shoulders and stretching muscles that had grown stiff from the extended period of stillness. When his hand came to rest on her shoulder with familiar warmth, she tilted her head up to meet his gaze, allowing a genuinely affectionate smile to grace her features as she gave him an understanding nod. She knew him well enough to recognize the restlessness settling over him; all this meticulous plotting and political maneuvering held little appeal for a man of his more direct temperament, and he was likely bored beyond measure.

As he made his farewells, Chiyo rose to her feet, smoothing her clothing with an absent gesture before redirecting her attention across the room. Lady Amaya stood engaged in conversation with several others, and the Uzumoreru Matriarch moved purposefully in her direction to seize an opportunity that shouldn't be squandered. Their respective clans possessed complementary strengths that could prove extremely formidable. If only they could bridge the philosophical divide between their differing approaches and methodologies.

[Topic left unless stopped]